smith



Oct, 18,1927. E W SWTH 1,645,939

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Oct 23, 1926 2 sheets-sheet 1 E. W. SMITH PRINTING MACHINE Filed 001;. 23. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2.

Inventor y w. 2. am,

Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

mlfv i,

EDGAR WILTON SMITH. (DIE EDINBTJI PRINTENG ldAUI-IINE.

Application filed octet-er F33, 1936, serial N0. 143.7933, and in Great Britain September 26, 1925.

This invention relates to rotary printing; machines adapted to print upon a web and provided with a brake applied to the reel spindle for the purpose of adjusting; the ten 5 sion of the web.

According to the invention. nurcovcr.

means are provided for the adjustment of the force by which the floating roller is uaported against the tension of the web "who by the tension of the web may he vared required.

According to the invention. moreover. the mechanical means for controlling the pres :u is oh the lira-he upon. the r. spindle is applied are also adapted for hano.

operation indcpendenly of the automatic control mechanism.

According-1' to the invention. incrcov mechanical means for controlling; tl. su e with which he brake upon I Andie is applied comprise a cor rotated mntrol spindle and element to he alternatively driven accoi seleii'tion determined by the auto control mechanism. The control spindle may conveniently be rotated from a roller ari'iarad, which the web is carried.

The in cntion further comprises the features ercinafter described.

lhc invention is hereinafter dcscrililed with reference to the accompanying diagran'nnatic drawing. in which Figure 1 is a part side elevation illust ating mechanism according to the invention, and

Figure 2 is a part cross-section corresponding; to Figure 1.

In carrying the invention into effect, according to one particular construction, and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing a floating roller a is provided in a position in proximity to the reel spindle I) and is supported iii hearing blocks a mounted in slidcways a formed in or mounted upon the machine frame 0, each of the hearing clocks (i being provided with a spigot 02 disposed at right singles to the axis of the roller (4 and extending downwardly in the direction of the slidewav a it helical spring a is located at one end upon the spigot a and abuts at the other end against a head a provided upon the upper end of a scrmwthreaded spindle (is which extends through a boss in the machine frame 0, which head a is accommodated within recess 0 in the boss. Ev such means the roller (1- is resiliently supported upon the springs I ll. second roller 6 around which the web cZ led, is mounted in fixed hearings in the machine frame 0, and the spindle c of this roller 6 is at one end extended outwardly to receive a worm c at a position outside the machine frame 0. The worm c engages a worm wheel 7 mounted upon a control spindle f disposed at right angles to the axis of the roller 6 and also carried in fixed bearings upon the machine frame 0, the said spindle 7 having loosely mounted upon it two hevel wheels 7"" 7 adapted to engage a third bevel wheel 9 mounted upon a shaft 9 whose axis is parallel to the axis of the roller 6. The control spindle 7 also car ies a cam f of a shape adapted to impart a reciprocating 1notion in a direction at right angles to the axis of the control spindle f". ilL friction or dog clutch f is slidahlv mounted upon and is adapted to be continuously rotated by the control s 'iii'idle 7 between the bevel wheels f, 7 which are provided to eiigragc thcrewith. in a position. parallel with the control spindle j a rod 7b is slidahly mounted in bearings 0 carried at the outer ends of arms which are fined upon a spindle 6 carried in hearings c which may he provided as auxih iary brackets advantageously formed inteqrally with the casing 0 hereinafter referred to, containing the selective mechanism. The rod h is thus capable of an oscillatory movement about the spindle 0 and of endwise movement in the bearings 0 Upon one end of the spindle 0 an arm 0* is fixed, which arm 0* has at its outer extremity, a swivel fitting disposed substantially co-anially with the rod it and having}; a hole or slot through which a rod passes.

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The rodi is screw-threaded at its upper end to engage with the lower end of a forked lever which engages a boss upon the cam f and carries a roller 2' or stud for engagementwith the cam 7". The rod 2' is extended downwardly beyond the end of the arm 0 and the extension of the rod 2' is fitted with a helical spring i hearing at one end against the swivel fitting at the endof the arm 0 and at the other end upon a nut 2' or head on the rod 6 in order that the cam 7 may partially rotate the spindle 0 and thus lift the rod 71, through the rod 5 and the arm 0*, with a resilient force, the strength of which is adjustable, and at the same time to permit the upward movement of the rod h to be arrested at a detern'iined point under the normal conditions of operation, as hereinafter described. In a position intermediate the rod 1 b and the control spindle 7, there is provided on the machine frame 0 a casing 0 containing two slides j, j disposed side by side and extending at the lower end oi the casing 0 to a position adjacent the rod h which is fitted with a disc 72? or contact member which, in the normal position of the rod h, is disposed in line with the adjacent edges of the slides j, 7' Each slide j, y' is provided with a lug j j respectively extending outwardly at the corresponding side of the casing 0 and upon this casing is pivoted a three-armed lever of which the middle arm 50 is provided to engage the clutch f on the control spindle f and the other arms of which are pivoted by a slot or pin connection to the respective lugs 7 7 ofthe slide blocks j The relative movement or travel of the slides j, y' in the vertical direction necessary tothrow the lever 7c over sulliciently to move the clutch 7 into engagement with one or other of the bevel wheels 7, f is less than the oscillatory movement of the rod in so that in the lowermost position of the rod 71, the disc 7&1 is at a level below whichever of the slides j, j happens to be in the lower position and may thus lift such slide upon rising. In the mid or normal position of the rod 72, the upward movement of the rod is arrested when the disc: 7L engages the two slides, with consequent compression of the spring 2' as the arm 0 is also unable to follow the full travel of the rod In a position adjacent to the oscillatory rod 1 b, there is provided a shaft Z extending across the machine parallel to the axis of the roller 6 andcarried in bearings 0 upon the machine frame 0, which shaft Z has fixed upon it'two levers Z each carrying at one end a weight Z the position of which may be adjustable, and at the other end engages with anut a screwed upon the screw-tlneaded spindle a so that by adjustment of the nut a the disposition of the Weighted levers Z with reference to the bearing blocks a tea is also provided at onev end with a bell crnnlq. lever 3" having at its upper cud a pin or other part projcetii'ig at right angles ilulclfl and zulapled to engage between a pair ol' discs 71%., or the cqiuvnicnl' such as a collar having an annular irroin'e. mounted upon an er ension ()iii the oscillatory rod 1 in such manner that movement ol the bell crnnh lever Z in 5 cause cndwh-r mm'cmcni ol lln' rod 71-. The other arm oi the lcvcr curries u swivelling lining thcou ch which [mi-FPS :1 screwed rod in looi zely cu: ied in ll boar upon the machine irnnr and lilicd with n helical. spring: an. hearing at the one end ugrai the ln'nrinpj o and at the other cud. against a fixed collar 7" npon the rod m. The swive .ing idling: advantagcouslv lit led with an indicattu' pl do dr' nosed illljll" cent a loi'igitiulinul slot in the ,Wi.'(illllff lil ting. the indir'nh'n' plrde being providml wilh gruduations or n'uirll'r i nlicnhng the normal position of the col ar which can he seen through the slot. and tbu the (.Litlll oi the adjustment oi? the collar 7 "with respect lo the si-iwivelling liil'in I and conscoi cntl ol the spring m may be readily obr-crvcd. The tree end at the rod n) i.-: lilfcd with a hand wheel n2 by which the rod -m may he rotated. The discs ll or the cipiivnlent. by which the conncclion of lhc rod 11 with the lever 7 is etlectcd, may be slidal ly mountcd upon the extension oi, the rod ii. and huliczz springs 73 may be fitted on (he ettcnsion :1 each side of the discs 72" or the clpuvuhuu between adjustable collars or nuts: 7i upon the extension. lrly sm'h menu: a rcsilienl connection lntwcc-n the lover I ond the rod il may be secured. The sh wheel ii gagement wit Lt i 'lhc said chain wheel n is mounted upon a sha l carried in a bearing upon the machine 'l'rnmc c and transm -ling the d ive by way oi u 'llciviblc shaft n to the brake ndji i up; mechanism. The bralie lncclnunsni is oi 'llnusual typo comprisimr a drum or grooved bznhc wh el 0 with which engage shoes o carried by pivotally mounted arms 0 In the application of the prevent invention. the upper pivoted nrm o of the brnltc is at its free end bifurcated or l'orlcod for l he reception of a boss 7) upon a worm whccl casing 79 which is fitted around the brnhc aid-- justing spindle y). The boss p may be piv oted or otherwise loosely connected to the brake arm 0 li ithin the raising): p is n worm wheel y) concentric with il 1 adjusting spindle The bore o l the worm whccl is threaded to engage a thread upon the ad justing spindle p and the worm wheel 7) is All ti l

rotatably mounted within the casing p advantageously in ball bearings. 'The casing p is further fitted with hearing for a worm p adapted to engage the worm wheel 9 and receiving rotation from the flexible shaft 12/. The lower end of the adjustine spindle passes through a slot in a braclret a fitted upon the machine frame 0, and engages in footstep bearing 0 provided on the lower brake arm 0 The bracket 0 has for its objeet to prevent the brake adjusting mechanism carried by the pivoted brake arms 0 from. falling, when the bralre shoes 0 are thrown open to receive a new reel soindle, the collar 79 provided upon the brake adjusting spindle p engaging with the bracket 39 for this purpose. The collar p is provided to be slidable and non-rotatable with reference to the adjusting spindle p and has recesses in its periphery, and the casing is provided with a lug p serving to carry a locking pin 9 radially movable with respect to the said collar 39 and adapted to engage with one or other of the recesses therein. lhe said pin p is advantageously mounted under spring action tending to maintain it in engagement with the collar. The spring is oil sutlicient strength to prevent rotation of the spindle p by the worm wheel 3), but is capable of being readily overcome by hand actuation of the hand wheel 32 The operation of the mechanism hereinbe'tore described is as follows The reel of web having been placed upon the reel spindle Z), the web (Z is carried lirst around the floating roller a and then around the roller 6 provided with the worm c and the brake spindle p is operated by means of the hand wheel p to secure approximately the pressure ot the brakes that is desirable. In the operation of the printing machine and the forward teed of the web, the roller 6 provided with the worm e is rotated, and thus cltects rotation of the control spindle 7, whereby the cam eti ects an oscillatory movement of the rod 72 so that the disc IL1 or contact member carried thereby is caused to contact with the slides j, It the tension of the web (Z is that for which the mechanism has been adjusted, no action of the brake control mechanism takes place. tdhould, however, the tension of the web be greater than the opposing pressure 0]": the springs a of the bearing block's ca the weighted lever Z and the springs m of the. screw-threaded rods m, the bearing blocks a are depressed and thus the weighted levers Z turn the shaft Z upon which they are ntiounted, with the result that the red A is moved longitudinally. Thus, the disc h or contact member upon the rod 7L new contacts with one only of the slides j, y' with the result that the clutch lever is is operated and causes engagement of the clutch f with the corresponding bevel pinion f or f.

The control spindle f thus drives the shaft 1n the corresponding direction 1 .l

through the chain gear 11, a a and the worm p, the worm wheel p upon the brake adjusting spindle 79" is rotated to ei fectthe corresponding adjustment of the brake shoes 0. In the event that the tension oil the web (Z is insutlicient, the elements of the mecha nism become so disposed that the rod 72/ is given a movement in the opposite direction, and thus the second bevel wheel f or 7 upon the control spindle 7'" is engaged by the clutch 7", and rotation of the worn'i wheel 2)" on the brake adjusting spindle p is ctlected in the opposite direction, to increase the pressure of the brake shoes 0 If it becomes necessary to increase the tension of the web (Z while the machine is running the screw-threaded rod m is rotatec so tl m the collar Z is moved in the direction away from the swivelling fitting Z and the spring m thus exerts a greater pressure upon the latter, whereby the weighted levers Z" are caused to exert increased pressure upon the bearing blocks a Should the tension of the web ti require to be decreased duriu the running or? the machine, toe sc. threaded rod on is rotated in the opposite direction.

It will be understood that he not limited to the details of construe hereinbetore described. Thus the dis .on of the several parts of the mechanism may be varied, for example, the control spin o and the mechanism cooperating therewith may be disposed in a position in proximity to, and may receive the drive from, the reel spindle.

1. In a device torregulating and maintaining substantially constant the tension oi? webs in printing presses, the comb ct web reel bralrc, adjusting means :lor said brake, and automatic control. means for said brake adjusting means nnprisinu continuously operated drive shaft, drlierential gear elements ope tively coni'iected to said brake adjuv mca s, a shift... clutch for operatively connecting said (i terential gear elements with said drive shaft. spring pressed means mounted to move in response to variations the ten sion oi the web, and a clutch shitting selector mechanism positively and continuously actuated with said drive shaft and operatively connected to said spring pressed means to shift said selector mechanism to operate said clutch in response to variations in web tension.

2. In a device for regulating and maintaining substantially constant the tension t on invention is lull of webs in printing presses, the combination ferential gear elements operatively connected to said brake adjusting means a positively driven reversing clutch mounted to engage with said ditlerential gear elements, a pivoted control lever for said clutch, a pair of independently movable actuators for said lever, a power driven selector mounted to normally engage both of said actuato to hold said clutch in an inoperative POSk tion, and means mounted to move in response to variations in tension of the web operatively connected to said selector to shit" iid selector to operatively engage one of said actuators, whereby the clutch is moved. to engage said reversible gear elements to adjust said web reel brake in response to variations in web tension.

3. In a device for regulating and maintaining substantially constant the tension of webs in printing presses, the combination of a web reel bra IQ, adjusting means for said brake, an automatic control means for said brake adjustino' means comprising, a continuously rotated drive shaft, a re "'er sible gear element mounted with its axis at ri ht angles to said drive shaft and operatively connected to said brake adjusting means, two gear elements freely rotatable on said drive shaftand engaging}; with said reversible gear element, a clutch rotatable with said drive shaft and movable thereon to engage either or said freely rotatable elements, apivoted control lever for said clutch, a pair of independently movable actuators for said lever, a selector operatively connected to said drive shalt and mounted to normally engage both of said actuators to hold said clutch in an inoperative position, and means mounted to move in response to variations in tension of the web, adapted to shift said selector to operatively engage one of said actuators, whereby the clutch moved to engage one of said freely rotatable gear elements to eitlect adjustment of said web reel brake in response variations in web tension.

4. In a device tor regulating and maintaining substantially constant the tension of webs in priutii'ig presses, the combination of a web reel. brake, adjusting means For said brake, an automatic control means for said brake adjusting means comprising, a continuously rotated drive shaft, areversible gear element mounted with its axis at right Leeaese angles to said drive i-tha'lt and opi-rulively connected to said bralie :uljusl'iiu means. two gear elements freely rotatable on said drive shaft and engagiupwith said reversible gear element, a clutch rolatable with said drive shaft and movable thereon to en either of said freely rotatable gear elements, a pivoted control lever for said clutch, a pair of imlepeudenlly movable actuators for said lever, a selector mounted to normally engage both oi said actuators to hold said clutch in an inoperative position, av cam rotatable with said drive shalt and operatively connected with said selector to oscillate said selector relative to said actuators, and adjustable spring pressed means mounted to move in response to uni ations in tension 0 the web opcralively con- 'nected to said selecha: to shili't said selector to operatively engage one ol? said actuators, w iereby the clutch is moved to engage one of said -freely rotatable gear elements to ellect adjustment of saidv web reel brake in response to variatioi'is in web tension.

5. In a d xice for regulating and niaintaming substantially constant the tension o1l. webs in printing presses, the cou'ibiiuition oi a web reel lJi'llliO con' prisiin; a pair of pivoted levers c rrying; brake shoes adjacent one end of s l levers. adjusting means for said brake interposed between the other ends of said pivoted levers and comprising. a gear casing in definite relation to one oi. said levers, a nut jtuirnaled within said. glee r casing, a spindle in threaded eii;if:i; -eii'1ei1l1 with said nut passing through said casiru and operatively engaging the other o i said levers, and automatic control means 'l'or said brake adjusting means com n'isiim'. a coin tinuously operated drive sl'ialft, dillerential gear elements operatively connecttal to retate said nut. a slii'ltiir; clutch ior operatively connectinp said di'llferenl'iul near elcments with said drive shall. Bl illll' pressed. means mounted to move in. response to variations in the tension oi? the web. and a clutch shifting selector niccluu 'siu positivol and continuously actuated with said drive shall:- and o mratively ((Hll'Hl'lWl to said spring preasial means to shill said selector mechanism to operate said clutch in response to variations in web tension.

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